The 1st Family of Real Estate is committed
to providing the best Listing services available. We have a combined total of
over 45 years experience as Listing Agents. As your Listing Agents we will make
the process easy by providing you with step by step guidance. We know the challenges
that face Sellers and want to help you through the process. We hope you choose
us to represent you in your journey to sell your home. Please read below for some
helpful tips!
Home Owner's Checklist
- a checklist of things to do to get your home ready to sell Before
Moving Day Suggestions - a checklist of things to do before moving day 10
Dangers of an Overpriced Listing - why you don't want to overprice your home As
the Market Cools, Setting A Fair Price Helps Seal a Sale - a Washington Post
article by Sandra Fleishman. 2005
- 2006 Comparisons
Number of Homes on the Market / Days on the Market There
are more homes for sale around the region than there were a year ago, and they
are staying on the market longer.
| | | Inventory | Average
Days
on Market | | | | Feb.
2005 | Feb. 2006 | Feb. 2005 | Feb.
2006 |  | Anne
Arundel | 1,188 | 2,503 | 51 | 60 | | Calvert | 329 | 635 | 91 | 108 |
| Charles | 312 | 701 | 42 | 47 |
| Frederick | 527 | 1,299 | 38 | 73 |
| Howard | 447 | 948 | 43 | 57 |
| Montgomery | 1,190 | 3,030 | 37 | 58 |
| Prince George's | 993 | 2,982 | 33 | 38 |
| |  | Alexandria | 156 | 739 | 24 | 70 |
| Arlington | 211 | 753 | 22 | 59 |
| Fairfax | 1,176 | 4,975 | 23 | 62 |
| Loudoun | 908 | 2,982 | 30 | 78 |
Prince William
(Includes
Manassas and Manassas Park) | 927 | 3,682 | 24 | 65 |
| Source: Metropolitan
Regional Information Systems Inc. Statistics cover single-family houses,townhouses
and condominiums listed with the organization, which is the local multiple listing
service used by most real estate agents. | HOME
OWNER'S CHECKLIST You're planning to sell your
home. You want it to be in top condition when potential buyers start arriving.
What can you do to make the best possible first impression? The following
checklist is a collection of suggestions to help you, the home owner, get ready
to sell your home. Check the appropriate box under each item to determine
the rating of your home. Click
here for a printer friendly page to print and keep it with your records.
LANDSCAPING YES NO
| | | Lawn in good
condition | | | | Hedges
trimmed | | | | Yard
cleared of leaves and papers | HOME
EXTERIOR YES NO
| | | Painted and
repaired | | | | Doors
work easily and silently | | | | Doorbells
operating | GARAGE YES
NO
| | | Door
opens easily and quietly | | | | Workbench
and tools neatly arranged | | | | Floor
clean and free of grease | LIVING ROOM
YES NO
| | | ** Walls and ceiling
freshly painted or clean | | | | Curtains
clean and in good condition | | | | Carpeting
clean and in good condition | | | | Windows
clean | KITCHEN YES NO
| | | Range
and oven clean | | | |
** Walls and ceiling freshly painted or clean | | | | Sink
clear of dishes | | | | Cupboards
neat | | | | Floors
clean and in good condition | | | | Windows
clean | | | | Faucets
in good repair | BEDROOMS YES
NO
| | |
** Walls and ceiling freshly painted or clean | | | | Beds
made | | | | Closets
neatly arranged | | | | Toys
put away | | | | Curtains
clean and in good condition | | | | Windows
clean | BATHROOM
YES NO
| | | ** Walls and ceiling
freshly painted or clean | | | | Floors
clean and in good condition | | | | Curtains
clean and in good condition | | | | Lavatory
and commode clean | | | | Shower
or tub clean and in good condition | | | | Faucets
in good repair | If at least 75% of the above items
have been answered "YES", and your home is realistically priced, it will sell!
** Off-White paint is preferable. SELLING TIPS WHILE YOUR
HOME IS BEING SHOWN - Put pets outside
- Turn
off TV.
- Let the salesperson show your home; let them discuss price and
terms with client
- Remain in background
- Answer questions only when
asked (be sure you know distances to schools and shopping centers!)
- Don't
volunteer information
BEFORE
MOVING DAY SUGGESTIONS The following checklist is
a collection of suggestions based on the many experiences of the families we have
helped relocate to Maryland. I hope you will find this checklist helpful
in saving you time and expenses. Click
here for a printer friendly page to print and keep it with your records. SEND
CHANGE OF ADDRESS NOTICE TO: | | Post
Office | | | Credit Card Companies |
| | Subscriptions | | | Insurance
(medical, life) companies with which you have continuing policies |
| | State Motor Vehicle Bureau |
| | Record and book clubs | | | Firms
with which you have time payments | | | Past
employer in order to receive W-2 form | | | Church |
| | Friends and relatives |
DISCONTINUE SERVICES WITH:
| | Utility companies (gas, electric, and
telephone) and obtain deposit refunds | | | Fuel
supplier | | | Newspaper home delivery |
| | Laundry and dry cleaning |
| | Diaper services | | | Cable
television | | | Garbage and/or
trash collection | | | Lawn and/or
garden care companies | CLOSE ACCOUNTS WITH:
| | Banks and savings and loan associations |
| | Stores where you have charge accounts |
| | City and county assessors |
COLLECT OR TRANSFER RECORDS FROM:
| | Schools | | | Doctors
(including birth certificates, vaccination date, current medical and les prescriptions) |
| | Employees | | | Dentists |
| | Veterinarian (including health certificates
and rabies inoculation tags) | | | Lawyers
You may wish to check to see if your Will must be revised if moving across state
lines. | | | Brokers |
| | Accountant | | | Hairdresser
and/or barber. You may wish to have a list of special hair care preparations
to give your new hairdresser or barber. | | | You
may wish to ask for professional referrals | TRANSFER:
| | Business
licenses and/or credentials. Some states have lengthy procedures and test
to complete before transfer can take place. | | | Auto,
fire theft and personal insurance coverage | | | Membership
in organizations and professional associations | | | Dentists |
| | Veterinarian (including health certificates
and rabies inoculation tags) | | | Lawyers
You may wish to check to see if your Will must be revised if moving across state
lines. | | | Brokers |
| | Accountant | | | Hairdresser
and/or barber. You may wish to have a list of special hair care preparations
to give your new hairdresser or barber. | | | You
may wish to ask for professional referrals | 10
DANGERS OF AN OVERPRICED LISTING - Sellers lose
the positive impact of the newness of their home on the market, and can lose prime
selling time.
- Buyers concentrate on objection and minimize good
features of the home.
- Sales associates lose enthusiasm about
showing properties that buyers reject due to price. They prefer showing homes
where their chances of selling are better.
- Sellers place themselves
in a poor position to obtain maximum dollars, since property can become "shop
worn".
- Sellers lose valuable time. Time is wasted in preparing
for showings; families are separated needlessly when out of town transfers are
involved, and school openings are missed.
- Buyers become suspicious,
thinking that there is something wrong with either the home or the neighborhood,
when a home has been on the market to long. Buyers always ask how long the house
has been on the market.
- Sellers lose opportunities to buy another
home, or incur additional costs when carrying two mortgages.
-
There is a good chance the property won't appraise, even if a buyer is willing
to pay the higher price.
- Sellers lose confidence in their agent,
blame their agent when their home is not sold; they complain about poor salesmanship,
to little advertising, not enough showings, lack of concern, etc.
- The
real estate agency loses its reputation in the area when a property is not sold.
The neighbors blame the agency and will list their home with another realtor.
As the Market
Cools, Setting A Fair Price Helps Seal a Sale By
Sandra Fleishman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, March 25,
2006; Page F17 The key to selling a house today is -- drum
roll, please -- don't be a greedy pig.
Okay, it's not as simple as that. But
the first thing that the gurus, the agents and the writers of new books on "how
to survive the coming housing crisis" mention is "set a realistic price." Click
here to read the entire article
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